Retraction device

Abstract

A reusable retraction device is provided which is adapted to remove an object such as, for example, a vaginal sponge from a woman's vagina. The retraction device comprises an outer barrel open at both its upper and lower ends and having a center aperture passing through the center thereof. Retraction element is provided within the barrel and extend from its upper end. The retraction element is adapted to open and close to permit gripping and release of the sponge after insertion of the barrel into the vagina. The opening and closing of the retraction element is achieved using control, i.e. gripping elements which extend outwardly from the lower end of the barrel and are in substantially the same plane as the barrel.

Wherefore, I claim: 
     
       1. A reusable retraction device adapted to remove an object such as, for example, a vaginal sponge from a woman's vagina, said retraction device comprising: an outer barrel open at its upper and lower ends with a longitudinally extending center aperture extending between said ends and a pin aperture extending transversely through the barrel and adapted to receive a retaining pin;   a tubular piston contained within said outer barrel and adapted to travel toward and away from the upper end of said barrel, said tubular piston being open at its upper end and having a T-shaped gripping handle at its opposed lower end which extends outwardly from the lower end of said barrel and in substantially the same plane as said barrel, said piston further including a pair of longitudinally extending, opposed keyway slots each proximately spaced from the upper end of the piston and adapted to permit said retaining pin to pass therethrough so as to capture the piston within said barrel; and   a spring-loaded retraction element provided within the open upper end of said piston, said retraction element having a pair of gripping edges and including means for securing said retraction element to said retaining pin, said gripping edges being adapted to close when said piston is moved toward the upper end of the barrel and open when the piston is retracted from said upper end.   
     
     
       2. The retraction device of claim 1 wherein said barrel is open at both its upper and lower ends. 
     
     
       3. The retraction device of claim 2 wherein a gripping flange is provided about the lower open end of the barrel. 
     
     
       4. The retraction device of claim 2 wherein the upper end of said barrel is conically shaped to facilitate insertion into the vagina of a woman. 
     
     
       5. The retraction device of claim 1 wherein said retaining pin is adapted to extend through said outer barrel, said piston and said retraction device element. 
     
     
       6. The retraction device of claim 1 wherein said tubular piston includes a center aperture which extends between open upper and lower ends and wherein the center aperture at said upper end is flared. 
     
     
       7. The retraction device of claim 1 wherein said retraction element includes a pair of opposed arm portions each having at their respective ends at least one gripping edge. 
     
     
       8. The retraction device of claim 1 wherein said means for securing comprises retaining means provided between said arm portions. 
     
     
       9. The retraction device of claim 8 wherein a pin aperture is provided in said retaining means. 
     
     
       10. The retraction device of claim 1 wherein said retraction elements comprise stainless steel springs. 
     
     
       11. The retraction device of claim 10 wherein said springs are plastic-coated. 
     
     
       12. A reusable retraction device adapted to remove an object such as, for example, a vaginal sponge from a woman's vagina, said retraction device comprising: an outer barrel open at its upper and lower ends with a longitudinally extending center aperture extending between said open ends; and   a retraction element contained within said barrel, said retraction element including a pair of spring loaded, retraction arms having normally closed gripping edges at their upper ends which extend out of the upper end of said barrel and normally separated gripping handles at their lower ends which extend out of the lower end of said barrel, said gripping edges adapted to open for gripping an object when the gripping handles are caused to be brought together and close and grip said object when the gripping handles are released and return to their normal separated position;   said retraction element further including raised locking elements on said retraction element adapted to engage a complementary annular recess on an interior wall of said barrel to prevent slippage of the retraction device from the barrel.   
     
     
       13. A reusable retraction device adapted to remove an object such as, for example, a vaginal sponge from a woman's vagina, said retraction device comprising: an outer barrel open at its opposite ends and having a longitudinally extending center aperture extending therebetween, a longitudinally extending keyway opening into said center aperture and a hook tip at its upper end; and   a movable piston contained within said outer barrel and adapted to travel toward and away from the upper end of said barrel, said piston including an outwardly projecting tongue adapted to travel in said keyway as said piston is moved toward and away from said upper end and further adapted to engage said hook tip for gripping said sponge when said piston is fully inserted into said barrel and be drawn away from said hook tip and release said sponge when said piston is retracted from said barrel, wherein said piston includes a T-shaped gripping handle at its lower end which extends outwardly from the lower end of said barrel and is in substantially the same plane as said barrel.   
     
     
       14. The retraction device of claim 13 wherein the end of said hook tip is curved downwardly toward said barrel. 
     
     
       15. The retraction device of claim 13 wherein a T-shaped gripping handle is provided at the lower end of the piston. 
     
     
       16. The retraction device of claim 13 wherein a gripping flange is provided at the lower end of the barrel.